Sounds like Mo reads this forum (and I concur with him):

CINCINNATI v. MIAMI

IT'S THE BATTLE FOR THE VICTORY BELL! A RIVALRY THAT GOES BACK TO 1888! IT'S THE OLDEST RIVALRY WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES!

Are you fired up now?

Didn't think so.

Nothing against history and tradition, because I'm a sucker for both, but does any annual affair feel more like a dumb family obligation than the yearly UC/Miami football tilt? Bearcat fans tolerate it. Redhawks fans probably dread it, or at least I think they dread it since I really don't know any actual Redhawks fans.

Miami has actually made Cincinnati quite uncomfortable the past three seasons, starting with the worst college football game I've ever seen in 2013, continuing with a game MU maybe should've won in 2014, and one they had a decent chance of winning last season. Still, a snapping of UC's ten-game winning streak in this series seems unlikely. Miami may have a better team this season. but so too - I think - does Cincinnati.

Let's go back to the Houston game, one which represented a huge missed opportunity for the Bearcats. The lasting images from that game are of Gunner Kiel warming up redshirt freshman Ross Trail when Hayden Moore started hobbling in the first half, and of Gunner being summoned to take garbage time snaps and merely hand the ball off when the outcome had long been decided.

I hated seeing that, in part because it represented such an extraordinary fall from a place where, two years ago, Gunner was setting records and getting national accolades, and in part because I just feel like Gunner deserved better than to be humiliated.

And now, I really hope he gets his chance.

My hunch after listening to Tommy Tuberville on Tuesday and reading between the lines is that we see a little bit of a shakeup at quarterback this week. Maybe Hayden isn't completely healthy. Maybe the realization is settling in that for the UC offense to reach its potential, more downfield production is needed. Maybe there was something about the way last week's game ended that we should be paying closer attention to.

Maybe we haven't seen the last of Gunner Kiel.

No disrespect to the other two guys, but I hope we haven't.

Ding. Ding.

Bearcats 42 Redhawks 21



https://t.co/s9QDIfCLPL

Well said!

http://espn1530.iheart.com/onair/mo-egge...-15135538/



UC's Rally Cats went up to Oxford to get a feel for the vibe at Miami in advance of the Battle For The Victory Bell this Saturday, which the Redhawks last won before some of these students were born in 2005. As you'll see, many are quite concerned with Gary Clark having a big game for the Bearcats. Solid work, guys.

Read more: http://espn1530.iheart.com/onair/mo-egge...z4L6FN6VyP

(09-23-2016 12:13 PM)Bearcat2012 Wrote:  http://espn1530.iheart.com/onair/mo-egge...-15135538/



UC's Rally Cats went up to Oxford to get a feel for the vibe at Miami in advance of the Battle For The Victory Bell this Saturday, which the Redhawks last won before some of these students were born in 2005. As you'll see, many are quite concerned with Gary Clark having a big game for the Bearcats. Solid work, guys.

Read more: http://espn1530.iheart.com/onair/mo-egge...z4L6FN6VyP

I would be impressed if there are 11 year old college students...

(09-23-2016 01:32 PM)Tech Savy Wrote:  

(09-23-2016 12:13 PM)Bearcat2012 Wrote:  http://espn1530.iheart.com/onair/mo-egge...-15135538/



UC's Rally Cats went up to Oxford to get a feel for the vibe at Miami in advance of the Battle For The Victory Bell this Saturday, which the Redhawks last won before some of these students were born in 2005. As you'll see, many are quite concerned with Gary Clark having a big game for the Bearcats. Solid work, guys.

Read more: http://espn1530.iheart.com/onair/mo-egge...z4L6FN6VyP

I would be impressed if there are 11 year old college students...

Yep, bunch of collar poppin Doogie Howsers up in Oxtown.

(09-23-2016 03:08 PM)rtaylor Wrote:  

(09-23-2016 01:32 PM)Tech Savy Wrote:  

(09-23-2016 12:13 PM)Bearcat2012 Wrote:  http://espn1530.iheart.com/onair/mo-egge...-15135538/



UC's Rally Cats went up to Oxford to get a feel for the vibe at Miami in advance of the Battle For The Victory Bell this Saturday, which the Redhawks last won before some of these students were born in 2005. As you'll see, many are quite concerned with Gary Clark having a big game for the Bearcats. Solid work, guys.

Read more: http://espn1530.iheart.com/onair/mo-egge...z4L6FN6VyP

I would be impressed if there are 11 year old college students...

Yep, bunch of collar poppin Doogie Howsers up in Oxtown.

he is gay isn't he?

Maybe because I came in as an outsider but I always felt that was a waste of an OOC game. It is usually well attended but sheesh. I would love to see the Bearcats playing another P5 school or at least a competitive G5 team.

(09-24-2016 12:26 AM)Ash_UCATS Wrote:  Maybe because I came in as an outsider but I always felt that was a waste of an OOC game. It is usually well attended but sheesh. I would love to see the Bearcats playing another P5 school or at least a competitive G5 team.

It's not just an outside perspective. No reason to play a school that does not have their own beat writer, does not spread our brand, inhance recruiting, etc.

(09-24-2016 10:50 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(09-24-2016 12:26 AM)Ash_UCATS Wrote:  Maybe because I came in as an outsider but I always felt that was a waste of an OOC game. It is usually well attended but sheesh. I would love to see the Bearcats playing another P5 school or at least a competitive G5 team.

It's not just an outside perspective. No reason to play a school that does not have their own beat writer, does not spread our brand, inhance recruiting, etc.

========================================================

The last 3 games have gone down to the wire.... Maybe,,, we better when this game before we get too cocky.....

(09-24-2016 10:50 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(09-24-2016 12:26 AM)Ash_UCATS Wrote:  Maybe because I came in as an outsider but I always felt that was a waste of an OOC game. It is usually well attended but sheesh. I would love to see the Bearcats playing another P5 school or at least a competitive G5 team.

It's not just an outside perspective. No reason to play a school that does not have their own beat writer, does not spread our brand, inhance recruiting, etc.

Except for the fact that UC-Miami when played in Cincinnati still does very well at the gate. Outside of Toledo and Ohio U, I can't see another MAC school coming in here and drawing 35,000 plus regardless of records. I am not sure what type of non-conference schedule everyone wants. Outside of the FCS games, the schedules have really been top notch. Future games against Marshall, Ohio U, UCLA, IU, Pitt, Nebraska, and Boise State should have good draws. As long as the FCS games are replaced with a lower tier MAC or C-USA then I feel UC as hit the right mix. Big XII money would go along way in getting better buy games but I don't think it would help UC with non-conference power 5 schools; however, at that point it wouldn't be an issue.

Lets say they Big XII doesn't expand. The 2018 home schedule would include Miami Oh, Ohio U, ECU, Navy, USF, and Tulane. Road games would include UCLA, UCF, UConn, SMU, and Temple. It is still a compelling schedule. Great vacation getaways against UCLA and UCF.

I have mixed feelings on this one. Clearly it's not the rivalry it once was. Beat them today and it's ho hum. Lose today and the pitchforks (justifiably so) come out sharper than ever for this coaching staff.

Saddest to me is it's the last regional team willing to play UC. As a member of the Big 12 we won't lose any sleep over that. As a member of the AAC, Memphis is a rival but eight hours is a long drive for attending regularly. Miami has proven to be a good draw in Cincy; somewhat puzzling given their dismal home attendance. It's an easy road game and if the Bearcats are playing as they should practically a de facto home game and victory pre-conference. I say keep it until a truly better alternative becomes available.

(09-24-2016 11:23 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  I have mixed feelings on this one. Clearly it's not the rivalry it once was. Beat them today and it's ho hum. Lose today and the pitchforks (justifiably so) come out sharper than ever for this coaching staff.

Saddest to me is it's the last regional team willing to play UC. As a member of the Big 12 we won't lose any sleep over that. As a member of the AAC, Memphis is a rival but eight hours is a long drive for attending regularly. Miami has proven to be a good draw in Cincy; somewhat puzzling given their dismal home attendance. It's an easy road game and if the Bearcats are playing as they should practically a de facto home game and victory pre-conference. I say keep it until a truly better alternative becomes available.

I'm not crazy about Miami still being on the schedule either, but this is right where I am on this. Until better alternatives present themselves on a regular basis, we're really wasting our time on this.

As far as the draw, I think it could be explained by three things (the first reason being the game in Cincy, the other two being the game in Oxford):

1. When Miami people graduate, they pretty much settle down in the Cincinnati area

2. Oxford is such a rough commute, that Miami people don't even travel there

3. The obvious (they have recently stunk up the joint, many times over)